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Period: to
Interwar Years 1919-1939
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The Treaty of Versailles is Signed
Treaty of Versailles The treaty is signed, imposing heavy reparation payments on Germany. -
The First Meeting of the League of Nations
The Assembly of the League of Nations meets for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland, excluding the United States. -
The Washington Conference is Held
The United States convenes the Washington Conference, attended by Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Japan, and Portugal. -
Benito Mussolini is Made Italian Premier
Mussolini King Victor Emmanuel declares Mussolini premier in an attempt to head off violent conflict between the Fascists and the Communists. -
Vladimir Lenin Dies
Lenin's death leaves some question as to who will be his successor. Joseph Stalin eventually beats out Leon Trotsky to take control of the Soviet government.
Vladamir Lenin -
The German Chamber of Deputies Accepts the Dawes Plan
Dawes PlanThe Dawes Plan restructures the schedule of German reparations payments so as to reduce the amount of annual payments, and grants Germany a large loan. -
The Locarno Pacts Are Signed
Locarno PactThe Locarno Pacts are signed in efforts to stabilize relations with Germany and its neighbors. The pacts usher in a period of peace and prosperity. -
The Spanish Monarchy Is Overthrown and the Republic Is Born
A provisional government is established to take Spain from monarchy to republicanism. -
General Gyula Gombos Comes to Power in Hungary
General Gyula GombosGombos becomes prime minister, an office he uses like a dictatorship, setting the tone for Hungarian government during the remaining inter-war years. -
The Final League of Nations Disarmament Conference is Held
Disarmament Conference The last major League of Nations-sponsored disarmament conference meets from February to July 1932 at Geneva, with 60 nations in attendance, including the United States. However, this conference, like it's predecessors, fails to secure any agreement, and organized disarmament remains an unaccomplished goal. -
1,140,000 Communist Party Members Are Expelled by Stalin
Purges of the Communist Party, created in 1933 and lasting until 1933, publicly investigates and tries many party members for treason as Stalin seeks to rid the party of oppositon. -
Hitler is Appointed Chancellor of Germany
Adolf Hitler In an attempt to reel in the chaos of the German government, President Paul von Hindenburg declares Hitler chancellor, the first major step in Hitler's ascent to dictatorship. -
The German Reichstag Passes the Enabling Act
The Enabling Act gives Hitler the power to issue decrees with the status of law.
Enabling Act -
The Spanish Nationalists Begin the Spanish Civil War
Generals Goded, Mola, and Francisco Franco lead troops in rebellion against the republic, sparking the Spanish Civil War. -
Spanish Nationalists Bomb Guernica
The small northern town of Guernica is bombed, and civilians are gunned down as they flee the scene. In this brutal massacre 1500 die and 800 are wounded, but the military targets in the town remain intact.
Bombing of Guernica -
The Munich Pact is Signed
Munich Pact Britain and France appease Hitler by signing the Munich Pact, which grants Hitler control of the Czech Sudetenland. -
The Spanish Civil War Ends
Francisco Franco Madrid falls to Francisco Franco's forces, effectively ending the Spanish Civil War. Franco's oppressive dictatorship begins. -
Britain and France Declare War on Germany
War On Germany In response to Hitler's continued aggression in Eastern Europe, Britain and France go to war with Germany in an attempt to stop Hitler's bid for global hegemony.
